Suction sweeper



Nov; 16, 1931* J. J. MOCAB E 21'' AL I 2,099,172 SUCTION. SWEEPER .Filed June so, 4933 I +5 2 2 O. 0- 2 1 1 n Q l 1 a u .1 a: 0 1m r n u. 4

. D m u hm 7 0 4 7 a? .2. a 3. M W M H 4 m 0 9 E 0 W 7 W A 04 I u. mu A MP1! 3 MH- "w 5 Z n H H 5 WIWW W 1 y m I 4 x J 8 .1. .1... 4 3.4. .H w o G v H w Nov; 16,1937. .J.'MCCABE ET AL 2,099,172.

SUCTION SWEEPER Filed June 30, 1935 5 Sheets-Shet 4 zu 'ys.

Nov. 1 6, 1937. 3 J. J. MCCABE ET AL 2,099,172

SUCTION SWEEPER Filed June 50, 1935" 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Jon/v e]: M Cnas HRTHUP N JHF Patented Nov. 16,1937 I 2,099,172 SUCTION SWEEPER- John J. McCabe and Arthur W. Seyfried, Cleveland, Ohio, assignors to The Apex Electrical Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application June so, 1933, Serial No. 678,454-

18- Claims.

This invention relates to vacuum cleaners and of. both sound vibrations and electric currents.

Another object of this invention is the provi- 15 sion of an improved form of sectional casing construction which provides a generally simplified means for the'securement of a vacuum cleaner motor.

Another object of this invention relates to the 20 provision of an improved means for adjusting the height of a vacuum cleaner nozzle with respect to the working surface.

Another object of this invention relatesto the.

provision of an improved form of a quickly de- 25 tachable belt cover and a quickly detachable brush guard for vacuum cleaners employing a rotatably driven brush. I

Another object of this invention relates to the provision of a vacuum cleaner having a work il- 30 luminating lamp of improved construction.

: Another object of this invention relates to the provision of an improved working handle support and position control for vacuum cleaners and the like.

35 Another object of this invention relates tothe provision of an improved form of adjustable mounting for the rotary brush of a suction sweeper and an improved form of brush driving pulley.

Another object of this invention relates to the 40 provision of an improved handle means for guiding the' movement of the cleaner whereby the cleaner may be directed with a minimum of effort into the'corners and around objects on the surface being cleaned.

45 Another object of this invention relates to the provision of an improved form of casing construction embodying as a built-in part of the casing an improved form of bumper to prevent the marring of articles of furniture-and the like.

50 A further object of this invention relates to the provision of a cleaner casing of enhanced beauty in which all the movable and operating parts of the cleaner are concealed beneath a smoothly finished exterior shell and in which the casing is built up from a number of readily formed in- 3 expensive sections which can be readily assembled with a small amount of labor.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts, hereinafter illustrated and describedin some of its embodiments in-the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a power driven suction sweeper illustrative of one form of this invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view in section taken on line 22, Figure 5.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the underside of the cleaner. shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4, Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5--5 Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a side elevational view illustrating some of the details of the motor housing and its securement means. 1

Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10 are detail sectional views of theindividual elements of the cleaner casin'g shown in disassembled relation and taken ona section corresponding generally to section line 22, Figure 5.

Figure 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line Hl i, Figure 5 showing one of the details of the motor and motor cap securement means.

Figure 12 is a-sectional' view taken on line 12- I2, Figure 4 illustrating some of the details of the supporting wheel adjustment means. Figures 13 and 14 are enlarged sectional views taken on line I3-l3, Figure 3 and I l-44 Figure 13 respectively, illustrating the details of the handle bail stop and the handle bail securement means..

Figure 15 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line Iii-l5, Figure 3 illustrating the details of the brush bearing'and its mounting.

Figure 16 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line lB-IB, Figure 4, illustrating the details of the work illuminating lamp and its receiving socket with the lamp guard removed from the cleaner casing.

Figure 17 is a sectional view of the lamp details taken on the line |1-ll, Figure 16.

Figure 18 is a sectional view of the lamp details taken on the line I8 l8, Figure 16.

Figure 19 is an enlarged side elevational view partly in section showing the details of the handle construction.

Figure 20 is an enlargedsectional view taken through the axis of the lower part of the cleaner as handle, illustrating the mechanism provided for steering the cleaner.

Figure 21 is a sectional view taken on line 2l--2i, Figure with the plug cap of the motor cord removed.

Figure 22 is a sectional view taken on line 22-22, Figure 20; and

Figure 23 is a side elevational view of the handle lock taken in a direction indicated by the line 23-23, Figure 20.

The cleaner used for the purpose of illustrating this invention comprises a casing referred to generally by the numeral l and having a motor cap or housing 2 at the front of which there is provided a removable guard 3 for a work illuminating lamp 4. A bumper 5 formed from a soft yielding material as for example a soft rubber, is carried by the front walls and by the side walls for the purpose of preventing contact with the cleaner during its operation from marring and scratching articles of furniture and the like. A foot pedal having a pad 6 is provided for adjusting the height of the nozzle with respect to the working surface. The discharge end of the casing is connected incommunicating relation with adust filtering bag I which is secured at its upper end by means of a spring 8 to the operating handle In of the cleaner. The upper end of r the cleaner handle is provided with a pistol grip H on the top part of which there is provided a switch having an operating member 12 for controlling the operation of the cleaner motor. An extension cord 13 is provided for connecting the motor to a source of electrical current supply.

A window or aperture I4 is provided in the top of the cleaner casing so that the operator can observe the nozzle adjustment indicator which shows the height at which the nozzle is adjusted with respect to the working surface. The operating handle 10 is connected to-the cleaner casing by means of a bail 15 which is pivoted at Hi to the casing. This handle is connected to the bail through an angle fitting" and is rotatable in this angle fitting for the purpose of facilitating the steering of the cleaner casing as will be described in detail presently.

As best illustrated in Figures 6 to II, the cleaner casing I is built up from a plurality of stamped or die-cast sections. The motor cap 2 terminates at its'lower end in an annular flange .20 at the underside of which there is provided a plurality of circumferentially spaced, drilled and tapped bosses 2| for the reception of screws 22 by means of which the motor cap and an electric motor are secured to a casing shell 23. A pair of complementary soft rubber, annular washers 24 are interposed between the peripheraledge 25 of .a motor supporting plate and the respective *flanges 20 and 25' of the motor cap 2 and the four screws 22.

The motor is flexibly intermediate its length by the soft .washers 24 shell 23. By reason of this arrangement ithe motor cap and motor are secured to the cleaner casing shell "23 upon the application of the so that it has a certain amount of freedom for oscillating and vibratingmovements. The flexible rubber gaskets or washers 24 prevent the groundingof the motor to the cleaner casing and I at the same time prevent the transmission of audio-frequency vibrations'to the cleaner casing This form of motor mounting constitutes 'in effect a floating support for such motor whereby an extreme quietness of operation of the device is attained.

Rearwardly of the member supported in a plane The motor cap 2 and shell 23 shown in Figures 6 and '7, form the major portion of the exterior finished part of the cleaner casing. The forward end 26 of the shell 23 forms in part, the nozzle and suction chamber forming walls of the casing. A discharge outlet 21 is formed by the rear part of the shell. A vertical wall part 28 extends from the inner face of the shell to form the side walls of a fan case. A pair of wall members 30, located one at each side the forward end of the shell form aportion of a brush bearing support which will be described in detail presently.

A'pair of bearing halves 3| and 32 are formed integrally with the shell 23 at each side thereof. At each side of the front half of the shell are formed side Walls 33 and rear walls 34. The wall parts 33 and 34 cooperate to define in part, wheel chambers for concealing the forward supporting wheels of the cleaner. The aforesaid parts described in connection with the shell 23, are preferably formed integrally with the shell as may be readily done by forming the shell from a diecasting.

A partition member indicated generally by the numeral 35 and shown in Figure 8, cooperates with the shell 23 to complete the fan chamber and to form in part, the walls of a suction chamber which constitutes a connecting chamber or passageway between the inlet opening 36 of the fan case and the working mouth of the cleaner. At the forward end of the partition member there is provided an upstanding lip 31 which abuts against a short wall part 38, integrally formed with the underside of the shell 23.

A pair of bearing halves 40 and 4| are formed at each side of the forward end of the partition member and when the cleaner is assembled they are positioned opposite to the bearing halves 32 and 3! respectively. A pair of vertical walls 42 depend from the underside of the partition member at its opposite edges. These walls are located in' front of the fan case opening 36 and they form in part the side walls of the'suction chamber.

The forward end of the partition member 35 is provided-with wall portions 43 and 44 having the center thereof there is left a tongue 46 the u purpose of which will be described presently. The vertical wall parts 44 extend inwardly but a slight distance from the sides of the cleaner and they terminate in the side walls 42.

The nozzle forming parts 43.to of the member 35 are connected to thebody of this member by means of the well parts 44 and the interconnecting members 41 and 48 which are provided at the opposite edges of the partition member.

a pair of depending bosses 50 having threaded holes 5| for receiving the screws which hold the. rear supporting wheels of the cleaner in place. A threaded hole 52 is provided at a point adjacent to the rear of the fan inlet 35 for the reception of a threaded member 53 which is provided to adjustably hold the removable cover plate 54'; shown in Figure 10, imposition below the inlet 36 of the fan case.

The cover plate 54 is provided with side walls 55, the upper edges of which contact with the underside of the member 35 and the lower ed e:

54 there is formed atongue 55 which 35 there is provided overia notched portion 51 of a combined brush t5v the tongue 46.

of the cleaner.

parts 55- of the cover plate 54 fit beneath the ends and belt guard 58, which is shown in Figure 9. The forward edge of the guard 58 fits inthe cut-out portion of the front nozzle lip and it is provided with a notch at '60 which hooks over The top of the forward edge of the member 58 contacts against the lower edges of the bosses 6I of the nozzle forming portion 26 of .the shell 23. To the rear of the member58 there is provided a pair of supporting wall members 62 one at each end of the guard, which contact against the underside of the shell 23.

The combined belt and brush guard ,58 is in the form of a rectangular grid having parallel edges 63 and64, the former of which forms part of the rear edge of the front lip of the suction mouth while the latter forms the central part of the rear lip of the suction mouth of the cleaner. The portions 63 and 64 of the guard member are connected with each other by means of cross members 65, 66, and 61. These cross members serve to prevent carpets or rugs from being drawn into the suction mouth to a greater extent than is desirable and'the relatively wide center cross member 66 has the added function of serving as'a. guard for a brush driving belt.

ber 58. The surface of the bead 44 of the partition member and the faces of the side members 63 and 64 of the belt and'brush guard lie in a single plane and together they form the lips or work engaging edges of the suction mouth The front ends 69 of the wall of the bead 45.

As previously stated the motor cap or housing 2 is secured to the shell 23 by means of four screws 22. to the underside of the shell 23 by means of screws III which are received in drilled and tapped bosses II formed integrally with the shell 23.

The removable belt and brush guard 58 is se-- curely held in place by the tongues 46 and 56 upon the application ofthe cover plate 54. The

cover plate 54 is detachably secured at its rear end to the member 35 by means of the thumb screw 58 and at its forward end by the outer edge parts 69 which are received beneath the ends of the lip. parts 45.

"The bumper 5 is preferably made of a rather thick and soft yielding material as for example rubber of the consistency ordinarily used in automobile tires. The bumper is in the form of a strip having channels I9 along its upper and lower edges which are provided for receiving the lower edges of the opposite sides of the nozzle forming part of the shell 28 and the corresponding upper edges of the walls-43 of the member 35. The bumper is thus held in place upon the assembling of the aforesaid casing parts.'

The discharge outlet 21 of the shell 23 isprovided with a pair of pins 13 which cooperate with the slots 14 of a bag coupling member 15 to provide an easily detachable connection for the bag coupling.' A suitable packing ring 18. is

provided to seal the bag coupling at the edge of the discharge outlet 21. The bag I is bound at .11 than annularly grooved part 18 of the coupling 15. An axle 80, to which the rear supporting wheels 8| are journaled, is secured by means of screws 82 to the bosses 50 which are carried by the casing member 35.

The forward supporting wheels 83 are journaled on bearing pins 84 carried by plates 85 which are secured to the cleaner casing. in a pivoted manner by means of pins 86. The forward The partition member 35 is secured upper edges 81 of each of the plates 85 form surfaces which are contacted by pins 88 formed eccentrically on a shaft 90, which extends across the width of the cleaner and which is journaled at its outer ends in cooperating pairs of bearing halves 32 and provided by the shell. 23 and the casing member 35. The wall parts 28, 31 and 38 cooperate with a part of the shell 23 to [form a housing for the shaft 90 where it traverses the suction chamber.

The shaft 90 is providedat one end with an indicating wheel 9| which is visible through the opening I4 provided in the top face of the shell 23. At the opposite endof the shaft 90 there is a wheel having ratchet'teeth 92 cut on its outer periphery and a second set of ratchet teeth 93 which are cut on its inner side face. The ratchet rotation on the shaft 90. Movement of the member 94 in one direction is opposed by means of a coil spring 95.

An operating lever 96 which carries the foot pad 6 is fixedly secured to the member 94 and is provided for the actuation of this member in a downward direction, the spring 95 serving to return the pedal to its upper position. A fiat spring 98 is secured to the shell 23 by means of a screw I00 received in a threaded boss IOI of the shell. This spring engages at its outer end with the teeth 92 of'the ratchet wheel at the underside thereof for the purpose of holding the ratchet wheel and shaft 90 in their various adjusted positions.

The length of the stroke of the operating member may for convenience be arranged so as to move the wheel adjustment either a half or a whole division of the indicating dial 9| for each downward stroke of this member. The downward movement of the pad 6 serves both to raise and lower the suction nozzle of the cleaner casing depending upon the position of the elements of this part of the cleaner.

At the forward end of the suction nozzle the.

end pins 99 of the brush I02 are rotatably'mounted in suitable bearings such as the bearing indicated at I03 in Figure 15. These bearings are teeth 93 engage with the complementary teeth formed on a member 94 which is journaled for carried in and surrounded by cap-like members half of the length of the brush and they serve to alternately beat the carpet at the opposite halves of the nozzle once for each revolution of the brush.

, The brush holding bearing cups I 04 are retained in position by means, ofa spring clip I01. The end part I08 of this spring, is gripped between the contacting edges of the casing parts 23 and 35 and securely held in place by a screw I0 which is screwed into the boss 6|. The spring I0] clamps the cap I04 between the wall part 30 which isformed integrally with the shell 23. This part of the shell is drilled and tapped at III for reception of 'a screw H2. The head of this screw has a curved face which contacts withthe cup I04 so that when the cap is held thereagainst, the screw will be prevented from tuming. This screw may be adjusted to extend at different distances from the position shown in Figure 15 in order to lower the brush in comof the motor bearing H8.

belt H4 which engages in driving relation with a pulley H5 carried by the cleaner fan H6. The fan and pulley are formed from aluminum. By using aluminum for this belt pulley the life of the belt is greatly lengthened. The lower half of the driving pulley is of decreased diameter so that both edges of the belt are stretched equally. This also materially increases the useful life of the belt. The fan is drilled and threaded at its center II! for reception of the threaded end of the motor shaft H3 of the cleaner motor I20, the armature of which is indicated by the numeral I2I.

The stator I22 of this motor is rigidly secured to supporting members I23 which are in turn rigid with the motor supporting plate H9, the outer periphery 25 of which is gripped between the rubber gaskets 24. I The plate H9 andthe supporting members I23 may be conveniently formed from a single die casting. The underside of this casting is fitted with a vertical annular wall I24, which forms a recess for receiving the base or disk I25 of the fan. The fan blades are notched at I26 and extend beyond the edge of the disk I25 and over the wall part-I24 so that during the operation of the cleaner they serve to prevent lint and litter from accumulating beneath the fan in the space between the fan disk I25 and the plate H9. A cup H1 is formed centrally of the fan disk for the accommodation This arrangement permits the locating of the motor bearing closer to the belt pulley H5 thus decreasing the load on this bearing and increasing its life.

The front portion of the motor housing 2 has a concave surface I2'I which provides a reflecting surface for. the work illuminating electric lamp 4. The base of this lamp is detachably fitted into a socket I30 formed in the motor cap. Contact terminal members I3I are provided at the lower end of the lamp for contact engagement with terminals I32 carried by a plug member I33. Screws I34 are provided for connecting the terminals of the plug member I33 to the conductor strands of an electric cord which are connected in the motor circuit. If desired these strands may be connected to an independent source of current supply.

In the present case the lamp is connected'so that it operates at all times during the operation of the cleaner motor, such connection being found to be one which can be readily made and it was also discovered that there is less tendency for the filaments of the lamp to break when the lamp is operated at all times during the'operation of the cleaner motor.

The forward part of the casing is provided with a pair of oppositely located parallel vertical grooves I35 in which arereceived the tongues I36 of the lamp guard 3. This guard may be readily remnved from the cleaner for permitting access tothe tamp for cleaning or other purposes.

'Theimli $1123 of the cleaner casing is provided with slots'I33 into which the ends of the handle bail I5 extend. The forward edge I40 of these slots provides a stop for the upright position of the cleaner handle. Within the casing and to each side of the same as illustrated in Figures 13 and 14, there is provided a U-shaped spring I having turned-down ends I39. The center of this spring is riveted at I42 to a part I43 carried by the shell 23. A pair of pins I44 are carried in theextended ends of the bail I5. On these pins are journale'd rollers I45 which contact with the springs I4l.

The springs I4I have sufiicient tension to insure the raising of the forward end of the cleaner when the handle is depressed for lifting the forward or nozzle end of the cleaner over small obstructions and when it is desired to clean under articles of furniture and the like which require the handle to be further depressed, the tension I of the spring being readily overcome by further A pivotal connection is provided between'the handle I0 and the bail I5 for the purpose of changing the direction of the cleaner by simply twisting the cleaner handle. This is a great convenience in cleaning around articles of furniture and the like. The mechanism for accomplishing this desirable result comprises the angular tubular member I! into which the lower end of the cleaner handle I0 is journaled. The member I1 is slotted at I46 for the reception of a screw I" which is carried in the lower end of the handle. A second. slot I48 is provided in the lower part of the tubular member I! for receiving another screw I50 carried by a member I5I which is rigid with the bail I5. The upper edge of the member I5I is' formed with gear teeth I52 and the lower end of the handle is provided with a similar setof gear teeth I53.

The tubular member I1 is traversed at its bend by a pin I54. A difierential gear I55 is journaled on the pin I54 within'the tube II. This gear meshes with the gear teeth I52 and I53 so that when the cleaner handle I0 is twisted in one direction the part I5I which is rigid with the bail is rotated in an opposite direction and in this manner by a simple twist of the wrist the direction' of the cleaner may be changed without swinging the cleaner handle through a large are, thereby saving the operator considerable labor in the use of the cleaner.

A plate I56 is slidably mounted in a slot I51 formed in the handle part I5I which is rigid with the bail I5. The plate I56 can be locked in position by means of a'winged screw I58 which extends through a slot I60 formed in the member I56. The tube I1 has a slot I6I for receiving at times the member I56. When this member is adjusted to its upper position the sleeve I1 and the'handle I0 are locked to the bail I5 and it is then impossible to twist the'cleaner handle with respect to the bail. This arrangement is provided when it is not desired to use the steering device carried in the 'tube II.

The pistol grip 'II of the cleaner handle may be conveniently formed from hard rubber and as a means for preventing such handle from marring articles of furniture and the like the end part I62 of the grip is formed from a rubber of softer composition than is the rest of the grip. At'the forward end of the pistol grip a cavity I03 is formed for receiving a switch I64, the operating member I2 of which extends above the top of the grip where it may be readily manipulated by the thumb of the operator. A plate I66, 'securedby means of screws I61 to the grip II, serves to hold the switch in position in the grip. The electric cord I3 has a rubber sleeve I03 molded about the end which is received within an opening I10 vformed in the underside of the grip I I. A shoulder I1I is formed on the inner end of the sleeve I 68 to prevent the cord from being pulled out of the handle.

This arrangement-also provides a strain re- "lief for the connections of the conductor strands I80, thecontact terminals of which are connected a pair of clips which are bolted to the conductor strands I13 and I16. The plug part I80 is held in the bail frame I8I by means of at I83 to this part of the handle.

The specific details of the hand-grip and the control switch associated therewith do not form a part of the present invention and our following copending applications relate to certain features of the invention as indicated below which are dis- I and securement with respect to the cleaner casclosed but not specifically claimed herein.

J. J. McCabe et al. application Serial No. 15,132 filed April 6, 1935 for Operating handle for 'manually propelled tool and relating to details of the steering features of the handle;

,J. J. McCabe et a1. application Serial No. 118,512 filed December 31, 1936 for Work illuminating devicefor portable electrically operated cleaners and relating to details of the illuminating device and associated structure;

J. J. McCabe et a1. application Serial No. 140,952 filed May 5, 1937 for Handle mounting for portable tool and relating to details of the handle mounting and its adjustable connection ing.

Furthermore it is to be understood that the particular forms of apparatus shown and described, and the particular procedure set forth are presented for purposes of explanation and I that various modifications of said apparatus and procedurecan be made without departure from claims.

Having thus described our invention what we claim is: I

1. A sectional casing for vacuum cleaners and thelike comprising, a motor cap or housing, a shell forming in part the walls of a fan case and suction chamber, a partition member cooperating with said shell and forming awall of the fan case and in part the walls 01' the suction chamber at one "side of the fan case, a cover plate cooperating with the two last named casing parts to complete the walls of the suction chamber, and means for securing the aforesaid casing parts one to the other in the order named.

2. A sectional casing for vacuum cleaners and thelike comprising, a motor cap or housing, a plate forming one wall of a fan case, a shell forming in part the walls or the fan case and awetion chamber, a partition member cooperating with said shell and forming in part the walls of the suction chamber and completing the fan this invention as described in the appended case, a cover plate cooperating with the two last named casing parts to complete the walls of; the

suction chamber, means for securingthe aforesaid casing parts one to the other in the order named, and a motor in said motor housing sea cured at one end to said first named plate, such plate having its peripheral edge portions gripped between said shell and housing, said motor being elsewhere free of engagement with said casing.

3. A brush mounting for power driven suction sweepers comprising, a casing structure defining a suction mouth, a fan case and a communicating passageway therebetween, a" suction fan in the fan case, meanslfor driving said fan, a belt pulley rigid with said fan having its axis coaxial with the fan axis, a rotatable brush in the suction mouth, bearing means at the ends of said brush, a spring clip engaging said bearing means for detachably securing said brush and bearing means in the suction mouth, a pulley on said brush, belt means connecting said pulleys, said casing structure including an element rigid therewith in contact with said brush bearing means and in position to take pull of said belt means on said brush, and a brush adjusting member carried by said casing in contact with said bearing means, said member being maintained in its adjusted position by contact with said bearing means. I I

4. A brush mounting for power driven suction sweepers comprising, a casing structure defining a suction mouth, a fan case and a communicatstructure having an end part in contact'with said bearing means, such end part being so configurated that the screw is maintained in its adjusted-position by reason of its contact with said bearing means. I

5. A suction sweeperv comprising, a casing structure defining a suction mouth, a fan case and a communicating passageway therebetween, a suction fan in the fan case, means for driving said fan, a belt pulley rotatable with said fan, a rotatable brush in the suction mouth, bearing means for said brush, a pulley on said brush, a belt connecting said pulleys, a-brush guard removably positioned in the suction mouth of said casing structure, and a readily removable cover plate carried by said casing structure over said belt and having provisions for engaging and holding said brush guard in place, said brush guard being removable upon removal of said cover plate.

6. A suction cleaner comprising, a casing structure and an ambulant support therefor including a rotatably mounted shaft, said-casing structure Q comprising wall parts defining a fan case and a suction mouth and a communicating passageway therebetween, one .of the wall parts of said fan case being extended and cooperating with other wall parts of the casing to define a passageway which is closed off from and traverses the pas-- sageway between the suction mouth and fan case, said last-named passageway providing a means for housingsaid shaft from the dustand the dirt passing through said first-named passageway of the cleaner during its operation 7. A suction sweeper comprising, a casing structure. defining a suction-mouth, a fan case and a communicating passageway therebetween, a suction fan in the fan case, means for driving said fan, a belt pulley rotatable with said fan, a rotatable brush in the suction mouth, hearing means for said brush, a pulley on said brush, a belt connecting said pulleys, a brush guard removably positioned in the suction mouth of said casing structure, and a readily removable cover plate forming one side of the passageway of said casing structure having provisions for engagingv and holding said brush guard in place, said brush guard being removable upon removal of said cover plate.

8. A suction cleaner comprising, a hollow casing, a fan case projecting into said casing, said casing defining a suction nozzle communicating with 'said fan and having a downwardly presented working mouth forwardly of the fan case, a wall part in said casing extending from the fan case into the suction nozzle for smoothing out the interior of the suction nozzle and for forming with said fan case and easing a passageway, extending laterally of the'casing, and supporting means for said cleaner including a laterally extending shaft rotatably mounted in said passageway. I

9. ma suction cleaner, a casing structure having smooth and exteriorly'finished wall parts defining the suction nozzle, fan case and motor housing of the cleaner, said casing structure including wall sections extending outwardly and downwardly beyond the fan case defining open recesses at the underside of the cleaner, an operating handle for the cleaner having a hail the ends of which project into said recesses through apertures formed in said wall sections, means beneath such apertures for pivotally securing the ends of said bail to said casing structure, and means concealed in the recesses at the underside of the cleaner cooperating with said bail for maintaining said handle in difierent adjusted positions, one of the margins of said apertures providing astop for the operating handle.

10. A sectional casing for vacuum cleaners and the like comprising, a motor; cap or housing, a plate forming one wall of a fan case, a shell forming in part the walls of the fan case and a suction chamber, a. partition member cooperating with said shell and forming in part the walls of the suction chamber and completing the fan case,

a cover plate cooperating with the two last named casing parts to complete the walls of the suction chamber, means for securing the aforesaid casing. parts one below the other in the order named, and a vertical motor in said motor housing secured at one end to said first named plate, such plate having its peripheral edge portions gripped between said shell and housing, said motor being elsewhere free of engagement with said casing. 1

.11. In a suction cleaner, a casing structure having smooth and exteriorly finished wall parts defining the suction nozzle, fan case and motor housing of the cleaner, said casing structure including wall sections extending outwardly and downwardly beyond the fan case defining open recesses at the underside of the cleaner, an operating handle for the cleaner having a bail the ends of which project into said recesses through apertures formed in said wall sections, means beneath such apertures for pivotally securing the ends of said bail to said casing structure, and spring means concealed in the recesses at the underside of the cleaner engaging the ends of said bail for maintaining said handle in different adjusted positions, one of the margins of said apertures providing a stop for the operating handle.

12. In a suction cleaner, an electric motor therefor having a frame with an annular flange arranged transversely of the motor axis at one end of the motor, a housing for said motor, a supporting structure for said motor comprlsinga casingmember having an annular rim adjacent to the flange of the motor frame, said casing member defining in part at least a fan case and suction nozzle for the cleaner and forming with said motor housing the exposed portion of the cleaner when in its operative position, resilient vibration absorbing means in contact with both sides of the flange of said motor frame, and means engaging the rim of said casing member for clamping said resilient means against the flange of said motor frame and thus securing the motor to the casing membe said last-named means being concealed from view beneath the housing of bosses thereon and a casing member open at the side remote from the motor and having an inner rim opposite to and spaced from the rim of the motor cap and having apertures registering'with the apertures of the motor cap rim, resilient means interposed between said rims and engaging the outer edge portion of said plate, and means 1 in the apertures of said rims for securing the aforesaid structure together.

14. In a suction cleaner, an electric motor therefor, a plate rigid with a non-rotating part ofsaid motor and arranged transversely to the axis of the motor, a supporting structure for said motor comprising a motor cap having a flanged rim and interiorly formed threaded and apertured bosses thereon and a casing member open at the side remote from the motor and having an inner rim opposite to and spaced from the rim of the motor cap and having apertures registering with the apertures of the motor cap rim, resilient means interposed between said rims and engaging the outer edge portion of said plate, and screws in the apertures 01 said rims for securing the aforesaid structure together, the heads of said screws abutting against the rim of said casing member and being concealed beneath said motor cap. 1 e

15. In a suction cleaner, a casing structure having smooth and exteriorly finished wall parts defining the suction nozzle, fan case and motor housing of the cleaner, the sidewalls of said nozzle extending from the front of the casing to the rearmost part thereof and defining open cavities at the underside of the casing with the walls of the suction nozzle and fan case, and fore and aft supporting wheels mounted both in such cavities and rearwardly thereof, the extended portion of the nozzle sidewalls substantially concealing and defining open cavities at the underside of the 7 casing with the walls of the suction nozzle and fancase, and fore and aft supporting wheels mounted both in such cavities and rearwardly thereof, the extended portion of the nozzle sidewalls substantially concealing such wheels-from the view of the operator.

17. In a suction cleaner, a casing structure having smooth and 'exteriorly finished wall parts defining the suction nozzle, fan case and motor housing of the cleaner, said casing structure in-v cluding wall sections extending outwardly and downwardly beyond the fan case defining open recesses at the underside of the cleaner, an operating handle for the cleaner having a bail the ends of which project into said recesses through apertures formed in said wall sections, and means beneath such apertures for pivotally securing the ends of said bail to said casing structure, one of the margins-of said apertures providing a stop for -go the operating handle.

18. In a. suction cleaner, a. casing str'ucture v having smooth and exteriorly finished wall parts defining the suction nozzle, fan case and motor housing of the cleaner, said-casing structure including wall sections extending outwardly and downwardly beyond the fan case defining open recesses at the underside of the cleaner, an operating handle for the cleaner having a ball the ends of which project through apertures formed in said wall sections, and means beneath such ap'-' ertures for pivotally securing the ends of said bail to said casing structure and for maintaining the handle in one or the other of a plurality of various adjusted positions, one of the margins of said apertures p"oviding a stop for the operating handle.

. JOHN J. McCABE. ARTHUR W. SEYFRIED. 

